'There is nothing new about money politics'<\/p>\n
With corruption being so rampant in this country, some people
\nwere not surprised to hear the news about the alleged money
\npolitics behind Governor Sutiyoso's victory.<\/p>\n
Sutamto, 49, has been working as a taxi driver for more than a
\nyear. The former employee of a gas company resides in
\nKemanggisan, West Jakarta, with his wife and five children. He
\nhas been living in Jakarta for 32 years:<\/p>\n
There's nothing new about money politics among high-ranking
\nofficials in this country.<\/p>\n
If it is true that Sutiyoso was engaged in money politics,
\nit's no wonder that he won the most votes. He's very rich. His
\nmoney can buy people to support him.<\/p>\n
Money is powerful. Money can turn protesters into supporters.
\nMoney can do anything to overcome those who dislike Sutiyoso.<\/p>\n
So maybe it was better he bribed low-income people opposing
\nhim to secure his tenure. Nobody would reject the donation.
\nEveryone living in this city is in dire need of money to survive.<\/p>\n
However, ordinary people, such as myself, have a bad
\nimpression of money politics. It makes us think that having a
\ncorrupt mentality is a necessity to survive in Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Rozak is a vendor selling cigarettes and beverages near the
\nTaman Anggrek shopping center in West Jakarta. He is from
\nCirebon, West Java, where his two children and his wife reside.
\nHe stays with his relatives in West Jakarta:<\/p>\n
A comment on Sutiyoso's alleged bribery? You know, the power
\nblackouts in Greater Jakarta following his triumph in the
\ngubernatorial election was a bad omen for his second tenure.<\/p>\n
Personally, as an ordinary citizen, I disagree with having him
\nas the city's governor. The city councillors have betrayed the
\npeople by taking bribes from the candidates. They're just
\ntraitors who don't represent the people's aspirations at all.<\/p>\n
I'm not sure if he can make the city better in the near
\nfuture.<\/p>\n
Abu, not his real name, 32, calls himself an amateur gigolo,
\nwho used to be a sailor. He moved from South Sulawesi in 1995 and
\nnow resides in Tanjung Priok, North Jakarta:<\/p>\n
I wonder why most people in Jakarta dislike Governor Sutiyoso.
\nPerhaps superficial observations of his performance have
\ngenerated hatred against him.<\/p>\n
I think that he is a good and competent leader to govern the
\ncity.<\/p>\n
Why do people blame him for the city's lack of security? A
\ncity is usually full of street crime, regardless of who the
\ngovernor is.<\/p>\n
Anybody can accuse him of money politics as long as there is
\nstrong evidence to support that allegation. If it's true, then
\nSutiyoso should have stepped down.<\/p>\n
Roni, 36, is a private driver, who lives in Kelapa Gading,
\nNorth Jakarta. He is from Cikarang, West Java, and has three
\nchildren:<\/p>\n
I personally condemn those involved in money politics,
\nparticularly in the recent gubernatorial race.<\/p>\n
The city councillors and officials have set poor examples to
\nthe people. It means they give the green light to the rotten
\npractices of bribery.<\/p>\n
It would have been better for Sutiyoso to have donated his
\nmoney to low-income people who were forcibly evicted from their
\nhomes rather than to allegedly bribe councillors.<\/p>\n
-- Leo Wahyudi S.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/there-is-nothing-new-about-money-politics-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }